The Progressive Era - Weeblybelindasauceda.weebly.com/.../ch._25_-_the_progressive_era.pdf · The Progressive Era ... 1890 - 1920 • The Progressive Movement was at its greatest

The Progressive Era

• In the late 1800s rapid industrialization and

unrestricted growth of cities led to major problems.

• Progressive reformers attempted to find a remedy for

the social problems industrialization caused.

• Progressive reforms were introduced at the national

level by Presidents Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard

Taft, and Woodrow Wilson.

• In the following lesson you will find out what was done

by these Presidents and others to help solve the

problems during the Progressive Era of the early 1900s.

The Agrarian Movement

• In the 1870s farmers moved onto

the Great Plains, they introduced

improved machinery and fertilizers

to produce more than ever before.

• Improved technology led to an

abundance of crops which then led

to a decrease in the price received

by the farmers.

• But farming expenses remained,

high, the farmers were going broke!

During the late 1800s, the majority of Americans lived on

farms, today less than 2% still live on a farm.

The Agrarian Movement

• Overproduction of crops - due to improved machinery,

fertilizers, and new lands in the Great Plains caused a

drop in farmers income.

• Transportation Costs – western farmers had to ship

their crops to the Eastern markets, railroads took

advantage of limited or no competition to charge high

rates.

• Indebtedness – farmers were in debt from borrowing

money to buy new machinery or make improvements.

• Natural Disasters – droughts, floods, hail storms,

insects might wipe out a entire year’s crop.

The Problems of Farmers: 1870 - 1900

As crop production increased the price farmers

received went down. But, their production costs

remained high or even increased causing farmers

to go broke!

• In 1867, the Grange Movement was

founded.

• Its original purpose was to serve as

a social club for farmers.

• Its aim was to overcome the

isolation of the rural farmer and to

spread information about new

farming techniques.

• Soon the Grange had over a million

members who now supported

economic and political reforms.

The Grange Movement

The Agrarian Movement

• Farmers mainly blamed the railroads

for their problems.

– Farmers felt they were being

overcharged by railroads and grain

storage facilities.

– Farmers who belonged to the Grange

elected congressmen who promised

reforms.

– Midwestern states passed laws

regulating the rates railroads and grain

storage facilities could charge.

The Impact of the Grange Movement

The Agrarian Movement

• Munn v. Illinois (1877), the Supreme Court

upheld the right of the states to regulate

businesses that affected public interests

within the state.

• Interstate Commerce Act (1887), prohibited

railroads from charging more for short hauls

than long hauls over the same route.

• Interstate Commerce Commission was

created to enforce the new law, it became the

first federal government agency to regulate

unfair business practices.

The Granger Laws

The Agrarian Movement

Teddy Roosevelt

The Populist Party: 1891-1896

• In 1891, a new political party gained

support with the ‘common man’, it

was the Populist Party.

• The farmers, workers, and miners

battled against the rich, bankers and

railroad owners.

• For the first time women also played

an important role in politics.

• Populists believed that the rich had a

stranglehold on government and they

wanted the government to end

poverty, injustice, and unfair laws.

The Goals of the Populist Party

• Unlimited Coinage of Silver – instead of gold coins, make

more silver coins, it would help raise farm prices and make loan

repayments easier.

• Term Limits for President – only a single 4 years term.

• Direct Election of Senators – elected by the people of a state

not the state legislature. Gave more participation in government.

• Secret Ballot – to stop intimidation of voters.

• Government Ownership of Utilities – like railroads,

telegraph, and telephone companies. (kinda Socialist sounding)

• Immigration Restrictions – have quotas (limits) on how many

people could come from each country.

• Graduated Income Tax – taxes wealthy at a higher rate.

• Shorter Work Day – just 8 hours.

Populists and Election Campaigns

1892 Election – Populists were

successful in electing Senators and

their Presidential candidate did well

in the election (but he didn’t win).

1896 Election – Populists supported

William Jennings Bryan for President

due to his “Cross of Gold” speech in

which he supported the unlimited

coinage of silver, instead of gold

1900 Election – Populists again

supported Bryan, but he again lost to

William McKinley.

The Legacy of Populism

The Populist party would soon fade away, but it

was somewhat successful in its efforts, even

though a Populist president was never elected.

The Populist Party did leave its mark on

American history with the idea of Third parties.

Third parties provide an outlet for minorities to

voice their grievances or to voice new ideas

that the main stream (Democrat & Republican) don’t

usually support.

Many Populist ideas were later adopted by the

larger political parties, like a graduated income

tax or direct election of senators.

Populism to Progressivism

• Many people believed we were making progress

in improving society, but…

• Industrialization and Urbanization had caused

problems in the American society.

• People could improve society by relying on

science and knowledge.

• Government should fix these problems.

• But, Government had become corrupted by big

business and political machines.

• To achieve reform, the government itself had to

be reformed.

The Progressive Movement1890 - 1920

• The Progressive Movement was at its greatest influence from 1900 to the start of World War I.

• Progressives borrowed ideas from the Populists but they were different in many ways.

• Progressives were mainly middle-class city people, instead of the Populist farmers and factory workers.

• Writers, lawyers, ministers, college professors, and even Presidents became the Progressive leaders.

The Social Gospel Movement

• The Social Gospel Movement

started when Protestant ministers

began calling for social reforms.

• These reforms included the abolition

of child labor and for safer working

conditions.

• These people emphasized the duty

to help those less fortunate.

• The Social Gospel Movement also

strongly supported banning alcoholic

beverages. (Would lead to 18th Amendment)

The Muckrakers• As the cities continued to

expand the newspapers and

magazines began to reach a

larger audience.

• Investigative reporters,

writers, and social scientists

exposed the industrial and

governmental corruption.

• These writers became known

as Muckrakers, they raked

up all the muck or the dirt of

American life in both

business and government.

The Muckrakers

• Muckrakers examined the rise

of industry and the abuses that

were often used in the effort to

become rich.

• Muckrakers examined

business practices and the

negative effect they had on the

consumers and the lives of the

very poor.

• Muckrakers are often

considered to be the first

Progressives.

Muckrakers and Their

Influences

• Government passed the

– “Meat Inspection Act” law that set standards of cleanliness and required federal inspection of meat plants.

– “Pure Food & Drug Act” law that required foods to be pure and accurately labeled.

Upton Sinclair

• He exposed dangerous working conditions and unsanitary practices in meat packing industry in his book The Jungle.

Excerpt from “The Jungle”

• Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle portrayed the

new industrial economy as inhumane,

destructive, and uncaring.

“The meat would be shoveled into carts, and the man who

did the shoveling would not trouble to lift out a rat even

when he saw one – there were things that went into the

sausage that in comparison with which a poisoned rat was

a tidbit. There was no place for the men to wash their

hands before they ate their dinner, and so they made a

practice of washing them in the water that was ladled into

the sausage.

“Meat Inspection Act” law that set standards of cleanliness and required federal inspection of meat plants.

Because of Upton Sinclair’s novel ‘The Jungle’ the government passed the ….

The Patent

Medicine Trust

Poison for the Poor

Why does it say

poison for the poor?

Barrel says

‘Laudanum’ an

opiate that was

used by women

instead of alcohol

Money bags, Grimm

Reaper, and snake

symbolize what?

“Pure Food & Drug Act” law that required foods and drugs to be pure and accurately labeled.

“Pure Food & Drug Act” because of ads like these, this law required

foods and drugs be pure and accurately labeled.

• Problem – the horrible

living conditions of the

poor in the cities.

• Led to New York City

passing building codes to

promote safety and

health.

Muckrakers and Their

InfluencesJacob Riis

He exposed the poverty, living

conditions, and disease of the

urban poor in his book

“How the Other Half Lives” .

Muckrakers and Their

Influences

• Problem – governments

had become corrupt

with political machines.

• Boss Tweed and other

corrupt government

officials went to jail for

corruption.Boss Tweed ran NYC’s most

powerful political machine

Thomas Nast

Political Cartoonist who

exposed the corruption of

NYC’s Tammany Hall led by

Boss Tweed.

Muckrakers and Their

Influences

• Problem – trusts and

monopolies had an

unfair advantage among

businesses.

• Government passed

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

outlawing monopolies.

Ida Tarbell

Exposed Standard Oil’s

ruthless business tactics of

forcing others out of

business and thereby

creating a monopoly.

Muckrakers and Their

Influences

• Problem – city and state

leaders were often corrupt,

took bribes or broke the law.

Lincoln Steffens

Writer who exposed

corruption in city and state

governments in his book,

“The Shame of the Cities”.

Muckrakers and Their

Influences

• Problem – railroads were

charging farmers more

than their crops were

often worth to ship them

to market.

Frank Norris

Pointed out the stranglehold

the railroads had on

California farmers in his book

“The Octopus” .

Reformers• Progressives were so upset by the evils that had

fallen on the American public thanks to the Industrial

Revolution they began demanding reforms.

• Reforms were based on the idea that Society can be

made better.

• Social Reformers attempted to help solve the

problems that faced the American society.

• Municipal Reformers focused their attention on

solving problems at the city government level.

• State Government Reformers to free states from

corruption and influence of big business.

Jane Addams

• Founded a settlement house called

Hull House to help immigrants and

needy find a place to live, jobs, or

get an education.

• Beginning of social services like Youth

Shelter, Food Bank, or Roxanne’s House

Social Reformers

W.E.B. DuBois

• Help found the NAACP to help

African Americans gain civil rights.

• First African American to earn a

Ph.D. from Harvard.

• W.E.B. felt African Americans

should achieve immediate racial

equality and supported open

protests.

• He often disagreed with another

Civil Rights pioneer Booker T.

Social Reformers

Booker T. Washington

• Booker agreed with W.E.B. that

African Americans should seek

their civil rights, but he

disagreed on how they should

achieve those rights.

• He argued that African

Americans should gain equality

by focusing on job training, not

by demanding.

Social Reformers

Social Reformers

Ida B. Wells

• Lynching (murder by hanging)

was a common tactic used to

intimidate African Americans,

especially in the South.

• After 3 of her friends were

wrongfully lynched for crimes

they didn’t commit, she started

a national anti-lynching

campaign.

Social Reformers

Anti-Defamation League

• Jewish organization opposed

to religious prejudice.

• Some Progressives focused on the

abuses found at the Municipal, or city

level of government.

• Progressives wanted to limit the control

of ‘political machines’ and get rid of

corruption and inefficient government.

• They wanted to replace the ‘bosses’ &

‘machines’ with real public servants.

• Reformers wanted to expand city

services to deal with overcrowding,

fire hazards, and sanitation issues.

Municipal Reforms

Reforming State Governments

• At the state level, several Progressive governors

took steps to limit corruption and the influence of

big business.

• Robert LaFollette the Progressive governor of

Wisconsin’s and Theodore Roosevelt of New

York both took steps to limit the powers of big

business within their states.

Political Reforms

• Secret Ballot – to keep people from being

intimidated or forced to vote a certain way.

• Initiative – voters could introduce bills themselves.

• Referendum – voters could force legislators to place

a bill on the ballot to be voted on.

• Recall – elected officials could be removed from

office by voters in a special election.

• Direct Election of Senators – 17th Amendment

Senators are elected by the people of a state.

To give people more power, a direct voice in the

government, and make it more responsive to the people.

Progressives passed several laws.

Social Legislation

• States also passed laws to

overcome some of the worst

effects of industrialization.

• Abolishing child labor and

improving the working

conditions in the factories.

• New regulations concerning

the construction and safety

of urban housing.

Civil Service Reform• Much of the corruption in

government could be traced to the

‘spoils system’.

• This gave government jobs as

rewards to those who helped

get a candidate elected.

• These people were often not

qualified for the job.

• When Pres. Garfield was

assassinated by an office-seeker,

Congress decided it was time to act. Pres. Garfield

gets capped

I’ve

been

shot !

Civil Service Reform

• Pendleton Act (1883) passed

by Congress created the

Civil Service Commission.

• This commission gave exams

that selected government

appointees based on merit, not

on who they knew.

• Helped to rid government of

corruption and made it more

efficient.

The Progressive Presidents

Between 1901 and 1919, three Presidents

began a series of Progressive reforms.

Teddy

Roosevelt

William

Howard TaftWoodrow

Wilson

• Teddy Roosevelt came from a rich

family, but had grown up a sickly child.

• Teddy overcame his illness by being

actively involved in sports and hunting.

• His accomplishments included:

– New York City Police Commissioner

– Rancher in the Dakotas

– Officer in the Spanish American War

– Governor of New York

• As Vice=President, he became

President with the assassination of

Pres. William McKinley.

Theodore Roosevelt1901 – 1909

Theodore Roosevelt1901 – 1909

• His economic agenda was called the

Square Deal.

• Under the Square Deal he launched new laws to

protect the consumer’s health from false

advertising:

– Meat Inspection Act (1906)

– Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)

– Increased powers of the I.C.C.

to regulate railroads,

telephones, and the telegraph.

• Roosevelt's motto was:

“Speak softly, but carry a big stick”

• Roosevelt, “The Trust Buster”

felt that some trusts that

served the public’s interest

were ok, but those that didn’t

needed to be stopped.

Theodore Roosevelt1901 – 1909

Theodore Roosevelt1901 – 1909

• He was a big game hunter but, conservation of

natural resources was important and he stopped

the government from selling off public lands and

added millions of acres to the national parks and

forests.

• The Coal Miners Strike (1902)

proved he was willing to use the

power of the federal government to

protect the public interests.

• When the coal miners and the mine

owners could not agree on a

settlement, a strike looked near.

• Roosevelt stepped in and

threatened to used the military to

keep the mines running for the

good of the nation.

• Problem solved!

Theodore Roosevelt1901 – 1909

• Roosevelt served two terms as

President before he decided not to run

for a third time. (no one had ever ran 3 times)

• He supported his Vice-President

William Howard Taft as the

Republican nominee for President.

• Taft won the election of 1908 and

continued with Roosevelt’s

Progressive policies, for a while.

From Teddy to Taft

William Howard Taft1909 - 1912

• Roosevelt supported Pres. Taft,

until Taft began doing things not

considered to be a part of the

Progressive agenda.

• Taft was nominated for President

again in 1912, but Teddy decided

to run against him.

• Roosevelt started his own third

party called the Bull Moose Party.

• But, Teddy’s 3rd Party split the

votes and neither Taft nor

Roosevelt would win in 1912.

William Howard Taft1909 - 1912

• The split between Roosevelt and

Taft allowed the Democratic

nominee Woodrow Wilson to win

the 1912 Presidential election.

• Wilson’s economic agenda was

called the “New Freedom”.

• Pres. Wilson felt like Roosevelt:

– Big business needed to be tamed

– Trusts should be broken up

– Banking system needed fixed

– Tariffs only benefitted the rich

Woodrow Wilson1912 - 1916

• Underwood Tariff –

– A tariff is a tax on imports.

– Wilson felt tariffs benefitted the

rich and he lowered the tariffs.

– To make up for lost revenue ($)

he introduced America’s first

income tax.

• Graduated Income Tax –

– Means that rich taxpayers are

taxed at a higher rate

– 16th Amendment gave Congress

power to tax a persons income.

Woodrow Wilson’sNew Freedom Legislation

• Federal Reserve Act –

– Reformed the banking industry.

– Federal Reserve Bank serves as a bankers bank, where

the banks borrow their money.

– Fed’s control interest rates and the amount of money a

bank can loan.

• Antitrust Legislation –

– Clayton Antitrust Act gave government more power to

regulate unfair business practices.

– Federal Trade Commission protects consumers against

unfair business practices by corporations.

Woodrow Wilson’sNew Freedom Legislation

Progressive Era and Labor

• During the Progressive Era,

public attitude towards labor

unions began to change.

• The violence that had

become associated with the

labor unions caused a loss

of public support for unions.

• The government often had to

use the military against the

union protests.

• All this would soon change!

Progressive Era and Labor

• In 1911, the Triangle

Shirtwaist Factory caught fire

and the public’s attention.

• Immigrant women and girls

worked on the upper floor in a

sweatshop making clothing.

• Fire spread rapidly and to

make matters worse:

– the doors were bolted shut,

– the sprinkler system failed,

– the fire escape was faulty.

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory

• The fire department arrived

but not in time to save the

girls from either dying in the

fire or jumping to their death

on the street below.

• In all 146 people died due to

conditions in the factory.

• Soon after the tragedy, the

Congress would pass laws

sympathetic to union and

called for safer conditions.

Progressive Era and Labor

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Effects of Triangle Fire• Department of Labor (1913) –

Congress created a Cabinet post to

study the problems of labor & to -

“promote the welfare of working people

and improve their working conditions”.

• Clayton Anti-trust Act (1914) –

prevented courts from restricting

activities of unions.

• Child Labor Act (1916) – Prohibited

sale of goods made by child labor.

Women’s Suffrage Movement

• In the early 19th century, the United States was a

‘patriarchal’ society – men held the positions of

authority and women were considered inferior.

• Women lacked the right to vote, to serve on juries,

or to hold public office.

• They were excluded from public life and were left

in charge of the home and children.

• In most states, once a woman married, she lost

control of her property and wages to her husband.

Women’s Suffrage Movement

• By the middle of the 19th

century, some women began

to organize to gain more rights.

• In 1848, they held a convention

at Seneca Falls, New York.

• The convention passed a

resolution that paraphrased the

Declaration of Independence.

• It proclaimed that women were

equal to men and deserved the

right to vote, or suffrage.

Susan B. Anthony

• In 1872, Susan B. Anthony

attempted to vote, exercising her

14th Amendment right (citizenship).

• But, a judge refused to grant her the

right to vote.

• In 1874, the Supreme Court ruled

that women were citizens, but they

couldn’t vote, because voting was

not a ‘privilege’ of citizenship.

• The Suffragettes were able to

obtain suffrage for women living

in the western states. Area in white

Women’s Suffrage Movement

• But, Susan was unable to succeed in introducing a constitutional amendment requiring all states to give women suffrage.

• By 1890 several women’s suffrage groups joined together to form the National American Women Suffrage Assn.

• This group was led by reformers:– Susan B. Anthony

– Elizabeth Cady Stanton

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh91kJ5XG_g

But do

I have

to vote

for a

man ?

Look

women

will be

able to

vote !

Nineteenth Amendment • During World War I, women had

taken the place of the fighting man in the work place, as women stepped up to meet the challenges of war, it became hard to deny them suffrage.

• As a result of World War I and women’s involvement the U.S. Congress passed 19th Amendment.

• The 19th Amendment stated that no state could deny a citizen the right to vote based on their sex.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvu3krcs8ec

Impact of the 19th Amendment

• The 19th Amendment was a step

forward in making the USA a true

democracy – a system of

government by the people.

• But, it did not lead to dramatic

changes in our political system,

as women did not sweep men out

of public office.

• Even today many women face

discrimination and are paid less

than a man doing the same work.

American Literature and Art

• The late 19th century was one

of the most fertile period of

American literature.

• As industrialization increased

the U.S. grew, so did the

middle class.

• As literacy rates rose so did

an interest in reading.

• Newspapers, magazines, and

‘dime’ novels created a

market for literary works.

American Literature and Art

• Improvements in transportation and

communications made it easier to travel and to

share experiences.

• American writers were strongly influence by

European novelists.

• Realism – showing things the way they really

were!

• Showed the impact of industrialization and social

change on people.

• Realists described life with as much detail as they

could.

Writers and Their Literature

• Horatio Alger – famous for his

‘Ragged Dick’ novels about a

poor boy who improves his life by

hard work.

• Mark Twain – Civil War era

novels discuss slavery and

society. Books like Tom Sawyer

and Huckleberry Finn.

• William Dean Howells –

magazine editor who describes

struggles of the ‘new’ rich to find

acceptance in established society.

Writers and Their Literature

• Jack London – ‘The Call of the

Wild’, deals with conflict

between civilization and nature.

• Henry James – ‘The Portrait of

a Lady’ about the wealthy upper

class and difference between

America and Europe.

• Kate Chopin – scandalous

book about love, passion, &

suicide.

Art in 19th Century America

• James McNeil Whistler –

famous for paintings of his

mother, ‘Whistler’s Mother’.

• Winslow Homer – famous for

scenes of the sea, boats, and

coastlines.

• Thomas Eakins – portraits of

the arts, sciences, and medicine

Art in 19th Century America

• Henry Ossawa Tanner – early

African American painter

focused on everyday scenes.

• Frederick Remington –

painted and sculpted cowboys,

Indians, and romanticized

views of the Western frontier.

• Charles Russell - painted and

sculpted cowboys, Indians,

and romanticized views of the

Western frontier.